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The Night Walkers #2
Paranoia
After years of sleeplessness that nearly killed him, Parker Chipp is learning that being a Watcher--a Night Walker who watches dreams --isn't an automatic death sentence. But as he figures out how to live with his unusual abilities, a powerful alter ego he calls Darkness is growing inside him, taking over his body and filling him with frightening impulses that could get him into serious trouble. Even as Darkness spins him out of control, Parker faces a worse threat: the Takers. Another breed of Night Walker, the Takers are anarchistic chaos-makers who want to see all the Watchers dead. Desperate to stop them, Parker discovers that they want to create an immortality pill and have kidnapped the one chemist who can make it . . . Parker's long-absent father.
304 pages, Paperback
First published June 8, 2014
55 people are currently reading
1550 people want to read
About the author
J.R. Johansson
8 books497 followersJ.R. JOHANSSON is the author of the Night Walkers Series (INSOMNIA, PARANOIA and MANIA) as well as standalone novels, CUT ME FREE, THE ROW and TO THE BONE. Her books have been published in over a dozen languages and more than twenty countries worldwide. She has a B.S. degree in public relations and a background in marketing. She credits her abnormal psychology minor with inspiring many of her characters. She lives in a valley by the mountains where the sun shines 300+ days per year with a hot tub named Valentino.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
October 14, 2013
Sequels are HARD.
And JR Johansson makes it look EASY.
Damn her.
And JR Johansson makes it look EASY.
Damn her.
Read
March 4, 2015Oh I loved how this book ended. It was just exactly what I was hoping for. Jack was a great new addition. Love Addie. Favorite part was the break in and also I really like all of Finn's t-shirts. ;)
August 4, 2014
***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***
Paranoia by J.R. Johansson
Book Two of the Night Walkers series
Publisher: Flux
Publication Date: June 8, 2014
Rating: 3 stars
Source: eARC from NetGalley
Summary (from Goodreads):
In the aftermath of the events that nearly killed him, Parker Chipp is trying to learn to cope better with life as a Watcher. And it seems to be working...until he wakes up in jail with a hangover and 12 hours of missing time. Darkness has somehow taken control and Parker doesn't have a clue how to stop him. He finds an unlikely ally in Jack, the mysterious guy in the motorcycle jacket who offers to help Parker master his abilities as a Watcher. But even as they practice, the darkness inside Parker is getting more and more powerful, taking over Parker’s body and doing everything he can to destroy Parker's life.
When Jack reveals that there is another kind of Night Walker, known as a Taker, Parker starts to wonder if the strange things happening in Oakville are more than just a coincidence. After all, people are more than just sleepwalking. They're emptying their savings accounts with no memory of doing so, wandering into strange parts of town and disappearing, they're even killing other people--all in their sleep. If Parker wants to find out what's happening or have any hope of seeing his father again, he’ll have to defy Jack and put his own life in danger...because the more he learns about these other Night Walkers, the more certain he becomes that his life isn't the only one that could be lost.
What I Liked:
You all KNOW how much I loved Insomnia, book one of this series and debut novel of this author. It got a rare five stars from me last year, which is awesome. I was pretty excited to read this book, and honestly, I wasn't too disappointed! This one definitely get ranked on the positive side of three stars. There were some things with which I had issues, but overall, I liked this book.
Months after the ordeal of book one, Parker is still dealing the Darkness inside him - and things are about to get worse. Parker learns from Jack (who pops back up) that there are different types of Night Walkers, and that the Takers (they take control of those who are dreaming) are trying to create something deadly, to basically become immortal. The Takers have Parker's father, a chemist, to make the drug. Meanwhile, Parker is struggle to resist the Darkness inside him, and his relationship with his friends is deteriorating. Craziness, right?
Johansson has definitely taken this series to the next level, which is exactly what the sequel novel of a series (usually, a trilogy), is supposed to do. It's no longer about Parker and his ability. So much more is at stake, and there are so many more players in the game. We learn key things about Takers, Watchers, and Builders - builders being the ones that can manipulate dreams (which helps Watchers recover better). We learn the roles of several characters, roles that one might not have seen coming. There are twists and turns at almost every page, even if some of them are pretty obvious.
I love that yet again, this book is in Parker's point-of-view. I really like Parker. Usually, when we read books in a girl's point-of-view, the guy can seem like a jerk. When you get to read from a guy's point-of-view, you can see how ridiculous girls act (at times). Girls definitely take things to the next level, blow things out of proportion, and guys have no idea sometimes. This was very authentic, in this book.
I'll talk about the romance in the next section, but basically, that was a huge sticking point for me.
I mentioned the progression of the book/series. I mentioned the narration. I mentioned our protagonist. Hmm... there isn't too much I can say specifically about the plot, because it's kind of specific and would give things away. But Parker's father is kind of back in the picture, but not in the way that Parker hoped. Also, Parker's relationship with Finn takes some hits. Parker must figure out his feelings with Addie. Parker has to deal with Jack all day long, and he doesn't even like Jack. Parker has a lot going on. He feels a lot of pressure, and doesn't get a lot of credit. Poor guy.
If there are more novels in this series, I will be reading them. I really like Johansson's writing style, and her craftsmanship is great. I'm curious as to what she will do in the next book... I'll guess we'll see!
What I Did Not Like:
The romance was a huge black cloud over this book, for me. In the first book, it was quite obvious that Parker and Addie had mutual feelings for each other. But readers were sort of lead to believe that Mia and Parker would be a thing, even though they are just friends. It's kind of the same thing in this book, only worse. Parker and Addie dance around each other a lot - they're secretly together, but suddenly, they're not, because Parker has lots of problems. Which is totally justifiable, Parker does have a lot of problems.
Except that Addie decides that it's totally a good idea to go on a date with Jack, even though it's obvious that she loves Parker. Does that make sense? Does it ever make sense? Parker was never "unfaithful" to Addie, he never messed with Mia, or had feelings for her. In fact, Mia never had feelings for him either. Addie is so insecure, and totally hypocritical. Excuse me while I dislike her.
Yeah. So. I didn't like the romance. I don't particularly like Addie. And she's the protagonist's love interest, so, it's kind of a problem that I don't like her. But in my opinion, Johansson messed up the romance in this series. I hate love triangles, even if they're just barely hinted at, or not really existent. If they show up at any point, I shut down. ESPECIALLY when someone like Addie goes and basically creates the love triangle, because she goes out with someone even though she loves Parker and he loves her. Idiot.
I know it seems harsh to take off two stars for something like the romance, but trust me, it matters. It has a huge impact on the story. A solid chunk of this book is spent on Parker trying to figure things out with Addie, or how he's going to make it up to Addie. Like it's his fault that he is Divided, that he has abilities, that he has responsibilities. Yeah, okay. Ugh, Addie.
Would I Recommend It:
If you read the first book in the series, Insomnia, then this one is definitely worth reading. It's not one of those sequels that undergoes sequel slump (for the most part), and it isn't difficult to read (meaning, I never wanted to stop reading, for whatever reading). If you haven't started the series yet, it isn't imperative, but you should do so if you have copies of the first and/or second book!
Rating:
3 stars. For me, this book was not as good as the first book, but it was still pretty great! I'll definitely try and read the next book(s) in the series, if there are any more (I have no idea, honestly). But I'm really happy to have had the chance to read this series!
Paranoia by J.R. Johansson
Book Two of the Night Walkers series
Publisher: Flux
Publication Date: June 8, 2014
Rating: 3 stars
Source: eARC from NetGalley
Summary (from Goodreads):
In the aftermath of the events that nearly killed him, Parker Chipp is trying to learn to cope better with life as a Watcher. And it seems to be working...until he wakes up in jail with a hangover and 12 hours of missing time. Darkness has somehow taken control and Parker doesn't have a clue how to stop him. He finds an unlikely ally in Jack, the mysterious guy in the motorcycle jacket who offers to help Parker master his abilities as a Watcher. But even as they practice, the darkness inside Parker is getting more and more powerful, taking over Parker’s body and doing everything he can to destroy Parker's life.
When Jack reveals that there is another kind of Night Walker, known as a Taker, Parker starts to wonder if the strange things happening in Oakville are more than just a coincidence. After all, people are more than just sleepwalking. They're emptying their savings accounts with no memory of doing so, wandering into strange parts of town and disappearing, they're even killing other people--all in their sleep. If Parker wants to find out what's happening or have any hope of seeing his father again, he’ll have to defy Jack and put his own life in danger...because the more he learns about these other Night Walkers, the more certain he becomes that his life isn't the only one that could be lost.
What I Liked:
You all KNOW how much I loved Insomnia, book one of this series and debut novel of this author. It got a rare five stars from me last year, which is awesome. I was pretty excited to read this book, and honestly, I wasn't too disappointed! This one definitely get ranked on the positive side of three stars. There were some things with which I had issues, but overall, I liked this book.
Months after the ordeal of book one, Parker is still dealing the Darkness inside him - and things are about to get worse. Parker learns from Jack (who pops back up) that there are different types of Night Walkers, and that the Takers (they take control of those who are dreaming) are trying to create something deadly, to basically become immortal. The Takers have Parker's father, a chemist, to make the drug. Meanwhile, Parker is struggle to resist the Darkness inside him, and his relationship with his friends is deteriorating. Craziness, right?
Johansson has definitely taken this series to the next level, which is exactly what the sequel novel of a series (usually, a trilogy), is supposed to do. It's no longer about Parker and his ability. So much more is at stake, and there are so many more players in the game. We learn key things about Takers, Watchers, and Builders - builders being the ones that can manipulate dreams (which helps Watchers recover better). We learn the roles of several characters, roles that one might not have seen coming. There are twists and turns at almost every page, even if some of them are pretty obvious.
I love that yet again, this book is in Parker's point-of-view. I really like Parker. Usually, when we read books in a girl's point-of-view, the guy can seem like a jerk. When you get to read from a guy's point-of-view, you can see how ridiculous girls act (at times). Girls definitely take things to the next level, blow things out of proportion, and guys have no idea sometimes. This was very authentic, in this book.
I'll talk about the romance in the next section, but basically, that was a huge sticking point for me.
I mentioned the progression of the book/series. I mentioned the narration. I mentioned our protagonist. Hmm... there isn't too much I can say specifically about the plot, because it's kind of specific and would give things away. But Parker's father is kind of back in the picture, but not in the way that Parker hoped. Also, Parker's relationship with Finn takes some hits. Parker must figure out his feelings with Addie. Parker has to deal with Jack all day long, and he doesn't even like Jack. Parker has a lot going on. He feels a lot of pressure, and doesn't get a lot of credit. Poor guy.
If there are more novels in this series, I will be reading them. I really like Johansson's writing style, and her craftsmanship is great. I'm curious as to what she will do in the next book... I'll guess we'll see!
What I Did Not Like:
The romance was a huge black cloud over this book, for me. In the first book, it was quite obvious that Parker and Addie had mutual feelings for each other. But readers were sort of lead to believe that Mia and Parker would be a thing, even though they are just friends. It's kind of the same thing in this book, only worse. Parker and Addie dance around each other a lot - they're secretly together, but suddenly, they're not, because Parker has lots of problems. Which is totally justifiable, Parker does have a lot of problems.
Except that Addie decides that it's totally a good idea to go on a date with Jack, even though it's obvious that she loves Parker. Does that make sense? Does it ever make sense? Parker was never "unfaithful" to Addie, he never messed with Mia, or had feelings for her. In fact, Mia never had feelings for him either. Addie is so insecure, and totally hypocritical. Excuse me while I dislike her.
Yeah. So. I didn't like the romance. I don't particularly like Addie. And she's the protagonist's love interest, so, it's kind of a problem that I don't like her. But in my opinion, Johansson messed up the romance in this series. I hate love triangles, even if they're just barely hinted at, or not really existent. If they show up at any point, I shut down. ESPECIALLY when someone like Addie goes and basically creates the love triangle, because she goes out with someone even though she loves Parker and he loves her. Idiot.
I know it seems harsh to take off two stars for something like the romance, but trust me, it matters. It has a huge impact on the story. A solid chunk of this book is spent on Parker trying to figure things out with Addie, or how he's going to make it up to Addie. Like it's his fault that he is Divided, that he has abilities, that he has responsibilities. Yeah, okay. Ugh, Addie.
Would I Recommend It:
If you read the first book in the series, Insomnia, then this one is definitely worth reading. It's not one of those sequels that undergoes sequel slump (for the most part), and it isn't difficult to read (meaning, I never wanted to stop reading, for whatever reading). If you haven't started the series yet, it isn't imperative, but you should do so if you have copies of the first and/or second book!
Rating:
3 stars. For me, this book was not as good as the first book, but it was still pretty great! I'll definitely try and read the next book(s) in the series, if there are any more (I have no idea, honestly). But I'm really happy to have had the chance to read this series!
December 7, 2014
My rating for this book is a 3.5/3.75.
Here's why-
1. Jack is an asshole! He keeps a lot of secrets to himself and continues to keep secrets until the very end.
2. The date scene.
3. Jack in general
I felt completely sad for Parker the entire book. Not only is he not completely whole, but one thing after another happens to bring him down. He becomes isolated and it's all Jack's fault.
Mia,Finn and Addie are awesome characters. But at one point they all abandon Parker which is a pretty shitty move. When people are spiraling out of control that is the most important time to have allies on your side for love and support.
The end scene was really difficult to understand. Fighting within a "dream" imagining pulling something apart. The whole "fight scene" was really hard to grapple.
It took a whole week for me to finish this book which is disappointing. I just kept putting it down. It was engaging while I was reading it but when I put it down I had no motivation to pick it back up.
Mania book 3 comes out 7-8-15. I am looking forward to reading that book. I am interested to find out more about NWS. I am interested to find out what happens after the talk with Mom.
Overall this book was a interesting read. The different levels of Night Walkers was intriguing and I want to know more.
Here's why-
1. Jack is an asshole! He keeps a lot of secrets to himself and continues to keep secrets until the very end.
2. The date scene.
3. Jack in general
I felt completely sad for Parker the entire book. Not only is he not completely whole, but one thing after another happens to bring him down. He becomes isolated and it's all Jack's fault.
Mia,Finn and Addie are awesome characters. But at one point they all abandon Parker which is a pretty shitty move. When people are spiraling out of control that is the most important time to have allies on your side for love and support.
The end scene was really difficult to understand. Fighting within a "dream" imagining pulling something apart. The whole "fight scene" was really hard to grapple.
It took a whole week for me to finish this book which is disappointing. I just kept putting it down. It was engaging while I was reading it but when I put it down I had no motivation to pick it back up.
Mania book 3 comes out 7-8-15. I am looking forward to reading that book. I am interested to find out more about NWS. I am interested to find out what happens after the talk with Mom.
Overall this book was a interesting read. The different levels of Night Walkers was intriguing and I want to know more.
March 3, 2014
It was so exciting to get the chance to read Paranoia early before it's release. Insomnia was one of my favorite reads last year. I was completely taken in to the world of the Night Walkers. Parker's journey in Paranoia is just as crazy and intense as it was Insomnia. You will find that there is no "2nd book in the series" let down here. There is more creepiness and wild happenings as Darkness takes over Parker's life. There are more shocking twists and turns as readers learn more about the world of The Night Walkers and their enemies. In Paranoia we also get to know more about Finn, Addie, Mia and surprisingly enough, Parker's father. Every character in this story is so well developed that it's hard to pick a favorite. I do have to say that I was intrigued by the character Jack. I was THRILLED to see what the author is doing with this character. (You will have to read more about that down below!)
If you are a fan of Insomnia (Book one in the series) I can assure you that you'll not be disappointed in Paranoia. In fact, you may be liking this second book even better!
I was lucky enough to have Author J.R. Johansson send me a Top Ten List of her favorite things
about PARANOIA!
My Top Ten Favorite things about PARANOIA:
1 - More Finn T-Shirts
2 - Parker vs. Darkness
3- GIRL POWER! We get a lot more of both Addie & Mia in this book!
4- Jack! Jack is such an interesting character that I'm writing an entire separate book in this world from his point of view...that's seriously interesting.
5- Parker's history - We get to explore where he came from and his world a bit in this book.
6- Night Walker Abilities - I can't discuss this too much because, SPOILERS, but they are cool!
7- Darkness - I know I already mentioned this, but he's very present in this book and needs at least two slots.
8- The Damage - the characters went through a lot in INSOMNIA and dealing with the damage and after effects of that in this book was really intriguing.
9- Kick-Butt Guys on Motorcycles - Yeah, we've already mentioned Jack, but he is so many shades of gray. I love it.
10- Kidnappings, Theft, Murder, Mayhem...all while the person committing them is asleep. Who could ask for anything more?
Now that you're all excited to read PARANOIA, go to Amazon to pre-order your own copy!
If you are a fan of Insomnia (Book one in the series) I can assure you that you'll not be disappointed in Paranoia. In fact, you may be liking this second book even better!
I was lucky enough to have Author J.R. Johansson send me a Top Ten List of her favorite things
about PARANOIA!
My Top Ten Favorite things about PARANOIA:
1 - More Finn T-Shirts
2 - Parker vs. Darkness
3- GIRL POWER! We get a lot more of both Addie & Mia in this book!
4- Jack! Jack is such an interesting character that I'm writing an entire separate book in this world from his point of view...that's seriously interesting.
5- Parker's history - We get to explore where he came from and his world a bit in this book.
6- Night Walker Abilities - I can't discuss this too much because, SPOILERS, but they are cool!
7- Darkness - I know I already mentioned this, but he's very present in this book and needs at least two slots.
8- The Damage - the characters went through a lot in INSOMNIA and dealing with the damage and after effects of that in this book was really intriguing.
9- Kick-Butt Guys on Motorcycles - Yeah, we've already mentioned Jack, but he is so many shades of gray. I love it.
10- Kidnappings, Theft, Murder, Mayhem...all while the person committing them is asleep. Who could ask for anything more?
Now that you're all excited to read PARANOIA, go to Amazon to pre-order your own copy!
May 20, 2016
Este libro estuvo increíble!! Tiene un buen ritmo, te sueltan demasiada información y todas tus preguntas van encontrado respuestas! Los personajes se vuelven más entrañables y se nota un gran cambio en nuestro protagonista Parker. Creo que insomnia es muy bueno pero lo siento un poco más "Rosa" o "juvenil" Paranoia lo senti con las fuerza y más oscuro, mañana mismo empiezo con Manía por que no puedo esperar para saber cómo termina esta increíble trilogía!!
July 7, 2016
De nuevo, otro aspecto algo predecible que me hizo sacarle una estrella pero debo admitir que estos libros son fascinantes. Me encanta la trama. Es una idea super original que no deja de sorprenderme. Me parece asombroso el mundo de los Caminantes Nocturnos creado por J. R. Johansson y no puedo esperar a tener Manía en mis manos.
February 15, 2016
Originally reviewed at: http://www.shaelit.com/2014/07/review...
Insomnia was one of my favorite thriller reads from 2013, a book that more than lived up to the promise in its name, so I was excited to reenter Parker's world in Paranoia. After all the chaos that erupted in the last book, our boy has earned some peace, and he got it for a little while, but when Paranoia starts, things go topsy-turvy in typical Johansson fashion.
As the synopsis says, the story opens with Parker waking up in jail with no idea how he got there. He's been missing for half a day, is nursing a hangover, and has proof of a fight, but has no memory or excuse to give. Only when Darkness, Parker's "evil half," whispers in Parker's ear does he realize that Darkness took control for the first time since the school year. I liked Darkness. I liked his snark, and I liked how we were able to get to know him as a character rather than just the flawed shadow of Parker. (The bit where we learn he doesn't know how to drive is one of my favorites.) I also liked that he isn't a very rootable character. Darkness is... well, he's dark. He's bad. He's Parker's Id, full of impulses and emotions. He wants what he wants, and he wants it now, dadgum.
Another kink in the works is Jack, previously known as Blind Skull Guy. Jack, like Darkness, doesn't always work in Parker's best interests, but he's able to give Parker more information about his kind. Night Walkers—people who enter others' dreams like Parker and Jack—fall into three groups. Either their Watchers (people who watch, like Parker), Builders (people who build and heal Watchers), and Takers (rampant, destructive people who can take over others' bodies, kind of like Darkness.) The world of the Night Walkers is very Inception-esque when it comes to the way Watchers can persuade others through their dreams by building influence into layers.
I wish I could have elbowed my way into the plot a little more. I wanted to be invested. I wanted to care. I wanted to get into Parker's fight against the Takers, his struggles with Darkness, his complicated relationship with Addie, his hunt for his dad. I wanted all of that, but I couldn't get comfortable. I was missing depth. Everyone felt like cardboard copies of themselves. Finn was funny, Addie was awesome, Jack was irritating, Darkness was snarky, Parker was... Parker. And yet the "it" factor was missing. The relationships felt thin, stretched. There's a little something brewing between Finn and Mia, but I yawned and shrugged. I didn't see the spark between them, nor could I really see a spark between Addie and insecure Parker. (Addie remains as cool and amazing as ever.) Even the ending fell flat. It felt too easy!
I wonder sometimes how the book would have gone if it were from Jack's point of view. As much as I love Parker, Jack had stakes in this game as well, and a fresh perspective might have shaken things up. Also, he'd bring a nice little Free Willy 2 vibe to the proceedings. (Don't knock it; I loved that movie.) I'll still check out the final installment in this series when it comes out; the first book has earned that much loyalty from me. (AND IT'S FROM JACK'S PERSPECTIVE!!) I hope this book ends up being what other second books often are—an easily forgotten bump in the road in an otherwise great series.
Points Added For: ADDIE, Finn, Darkness, some interesting world-building choices, Parker's mom, continuing to struggle with direct fallout from the first book.
Points Subtracted For: Wrapping things up too easily, failing to make me care about the relationships.
Good For Fans Of: Free Willy 2, Inception manipulation, dream walkers.
Notes For Parents: Language, violence, some kissing.
Note: I received a copy of this title for review consideration from the publisher.
Insomnia was one of my favorite thriller reads from 2013, a book that more than lived up to the promise in its name, so I was excited to reenter Parker's world in Paranoia. After all the chaos that erupted in the last book, our boy has earned some peace, and he got it for a little while, but when Paranoia starts, things go topsy-turvy in typical Johansson fashion.
As the synopsis says, the story opens with Parker waking up in jail with no idea how he got there. He's been missing for half a day, is nursing a hangover, and has proof of a fight, but has no memory or excuse to give. Only when Darkness, Parker's "evil half," whispers in Parker's ear does he realize that Darkness took control for the first time since the school year. I liked Darkness. I liked his snark, and I liked how we were able to get to know him as a character rather than just the flawed shadow of Parker. (The bit where we learn he doesn't know how to drive is one of my favorites.) I also liked that he isn't a very rootable character. Darkness is... well, he's dark. He's bad. He's Parker's Id, full of impulses and emotions. He wants what he wants, and he wants it now, dadgum.
Another kink in the works is Jack, previously known as Blind Skull Guy. Jack, like Darkness, doesn't always work in Parker's best interests, but he's able to give Parker more information about his kind. Night Walkers—people who enter others' dreams like Parker and Jack—fall into three groups. Either their Watchers (people who watch, like Parker), Builders (people who build and heal Watchers), and Takers (rampant, destructive people who can take over others' bodies, kind of like Darkness.) The world of the Night Walkers is very Inception-esque when it comes to the way Watchers can persuade others through their dreams by building influence into layers.
I wish I could have elbowed my way into the plot a little more. I wanted to be invested. I wanted to care. I wanted to get into Parker's fight against the Takers, his struggles with Darkness, his complicated relationship with Addie, his hunt for his dad. I wanted all of that, but I couldn't get comfortable. I was missing depth. Everyone felt like cardboard copies of themselves. Finn was funny, Addie was awesome, Jack was irritating, Darkness was snarky, Parker was... Parker. And yet the "it" factor was missing. The relationships felt thin, stretched. There's a little something brewing between Finn and Mia, but I yawned and shrugged. I didn't see the spark between them, nor could I really see a spark between Addie and insecure Parker. (Addie remains as cool and amazing as ever.) Even the ending fell flat. It felt too easy!
I wonder sometimes how the book would have gone if it were from Jack's point of view. As much as I love Parker, Jack had stakes in this game as well, and a fresh perspective might have shaken things up. Also, he'd bring a nice little Free Willy 2 vibe to the proceedings. (Don't knock it; I loved that movie.) I'll still check out the final installment in this series when it comes out; the first book has earned that much loyalty from me. (AND IT'S FROM JACK'S PERSPECTIVE!!) I hope this book ends up being what other second books often are—an easily forgotten bump in the road in an otherwise great series.
Points Added For: ADDIE, Finn, Darkness, some interesting world-building choices, Parker's mom, continuing to struggle with direct fallout from the first book.
Points Subtracted For: Wrapping things up too easily, failing to make me care about the relationships.
Good For Fans Of: Free Willy 2, Inception manipulation, dream walkers.
Notes For Parents: Language, violence, some kissing.
Note: I received a copy of this title for review consideration from the publisher.
April 27, 2014
Originally posted at City of Books
Paranoia exceeded my expectations and I ended up enjoying it even more than I did Insomnia! It's very rare that I like the second book in a series more than the first - usually I like the first better or they're equal. But there was so much plot development in this, and character development as well. It was a fantastic read, and I loved every bit of it.
After the fire that almost killed Parker, Mia and Finn, they're all laying low. Parker continues to sleep in Mia's dreams, but when Mia goes on vacation with Finn and Addie, Parker's forced to survive the nights alone. And that's when he suddenly loses several hours of his time and ends up in jail. He knows that Darkness, his evil side, can take control now. Jack, a guy he met after the fire, returns to teach him about his abilities, and Parker realizes there's more to it all than he'd thought.
We get a lot more background in this book. For starters, there are three different types of Night Walkers - Watchers like Parker, Builders, and Takers. All have different abilities. Jack teaches Parker about his own, and how he can change dreams slightly to have control. Through Jack, Parker also finds out more about his father and who he really is.
It was interesting to see Parker along with Darkness, because they're two distinct personas, but essentially the same person. Darkness is just the side of Parker that only has survival in mind. No morals, no nothing. And he's getting stronger. But then so is Parker. I liked seeing how much more confident he's gotten in this book.
We get to see Mia, Addie and Finn again as well, and there are some interesting developments. I wish there was more of Finn in this book though, he's my favourite character and the comic relief. But I loved this book anyway. Parker and Addie have gotten closer, but they're still keeping their relationship a secret. They go through a lot of rough patches in this book thanks to Darkness, and Jack too, but they're strong enough to make it through.
Jack really intrigued me throughout. He's very mysterious, and we don't get to know much about him apart from the fact that he was sent by Parker's dad. Jack is only a year or so older than Parker, and he has a thing for Addie so there's a lot of jealousy and resentment going on between them. There's a twist in the plot later on concerning Jack, but I saw that coming a mile away so I wish parts of the book had been less predictable. There are also definitely developments that I didn't see coming, and those were pretty awesome.
Parker learns a lot more about other Night Walkers, and though he's glad he's not alone, there are some evil people out there who'd use humans in any way to get what they want, and to survive. There's suspense everywhere, and quite a lot of danger and action, too. The pacing is great, and I just really, really enjoyed the book. There aren't really any loose ends at the end, and no cliffhangers or anything, so it left me wondering whether there will be another book. I sure hope so!
*Thank you to Flux for providing me with an eARC for review*
Rating: 4.5/5
Paranoia exceeded my expectations and I ended up enjoying it even more than I did Insomnia! It's very rare that I like the second book in a series more than the first - usually I like the first better or they're equal. But there was so much plot development in this, and character development as well. It was a fantastic read, and I loved every bit of it.
After the fire that almost killed Parker, Mia and Finn, they're all laying low. Parker continues to sleep in Mia's dreams, but when Mia goes on vacation with Finn and Addie, Parker's forced to survive the nights alone. And that's when he suddenly loses several hours of his time and ends up in jail. He knows that Darkness, his evil side, can take control now. Jack, a guy he met after the fire, returns to teach him about his abilities, and Parker realizes there's more to it all than he'd thought.
We get a lot more background in this book. For starters, there are three different types of Night Walkers - Watchers like Parker, Builders, and Takers. All have different abilities. Jack teaches Parker about his own, and how he can change dreams slightly to have control. Through Jack, Parker also finds out more about his father and who he really is.
It was interesting to see Parker along with Darkness, because they're two distinct personas, but essentially the same person. Darkness is just the side of Parker that only has survival in mind. No morals, no nothing. And he's getting stronger. But then so is Parker. I liked seeing how much more confident he's gotten in this book.
We get to see Mia, Addie and Finn again as well, and there are some interesting developments. I wish there was more of Finn in this book though, he's my favourite character and the comic relief. But I loved this book anyway. Parker and Addie have gotten closer, but they're still keeping their relationship a secret. They go through a lot of rough patches in this book thanks to Darkness, and Jack too, but they're strong enough to make it through.
Jack really intrigued me throughout. He's very mysterious, and we don't get to know much about him apart from the fact that he was sent by Parker's dad. Jack is only a year or so older than Parker, and he has a thing for Addie so there's a lot of jealousy and resentment going on between them. There's a twist in the plot later on concerning Jack, but I saw that coming a mile away so I wish parts of the book had been less predictable. There are also definitely developments that I didn't see coming, and those were pretty awesome.
Parker learns a lot more about other Night Walkers, and though he's glad he's not alone, there are some evil people out there who'd use humans in any way to get what they want, and to survive. There's suspense everywhere, and quite a lot of danger and action, too. The pacing is great, and I just really, really enjoyed the book. There aren't really any loose ends at the end, and no cliffhangers or anything, so it left me wondering whether there will be another book. I sure hope so!
*Thank you to Flux for providing me with an eARC for review*
Rating: 4.5/5
January 21, 2016
Pero que decepción!! El primer libro me encantó, si bien la historia me sigue pareciendo fascinante, tanto los personajes como el romance es débil. El personaje de Parker me gustó en el primer libro con toda esa cosa de Villano/Heroe ahora simplemente me pareció ilógico, irreflexivo e impulsivo, simplemente sus racionamientos no tenían sentido "yo dejaría a mi familia si creyera que los pongo en peligro, pero mi padre es el peor y más malo por dejarnos cuando nos ponía en peligro". El resto de los personajes son relleno, creo conocer levemente a Finn y aún menos a Mia, pero los entiendo un poco ¿A Addie? nada, no conozco nada de esa chica que trae loco al protagonista ¡¡y eso me perturba porque no comprendo su romance!! como se puede entender como un personaje siente tanta pasión por su pareja cuando en realidad no conoces a la chica y lo único que te dicen de ella es que es "Badass" pero en realidad nunca te lo muestran... Es una buena historia, una buenísima idea y el libro en realidad es bueno pero... simplemente el romance es lamentable ¿para que incluirlo y darle tanta importancia en la cabeza del protagonista si se va a desarrollar de manera tan desastrosa?
January 8, 2015
I need this book right now, the cover looks amazing!
Loved Insomnia and I just really really really need Paranoia in my hands asap...
Update:
Read it and loved it so much! Lots of awesome characters, new information and exciting things happen in this book. The ending was great and I can't wait for book 3! If you are looking for a YA thriller/horror this is your book, pick it up!
Another update:
You can watch my full review here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KP55K...
Loved Insomnia and I just really really really need Paranoia in my hands asap...
Update:
Read it and loved it so much! Lots of awesome characters, new information and exciting things happen in this book. The ending was great and I can't wait for book 3! If you are looking for a YA thriller/horror this is your book, pick it up!
Another update:
You can watch my full review here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KP55K...
July 12, 2014
It was so beautiful and I enjoyed it almost as much as I did Insomnia.
I have new favorite character (Darkness - yes, I love him so much!) and he gave me more feelings than anyone else.
I enjoyed learning more about the NWS and the whole world - it was very exciting to learn about their origin (by the way I absolutely loved the idea).
I found this book less scary and mysterious but it was more emotional than the first book.
I have new favorite character (Darkness - yes, I love him so much!) and he gave me more feelings than anyone else.
I enjoyed learning more about the NWS and the whole world - it was very exciting to learn about their origin (by the way I absolutely loved the idea).
I found this book less scary and mysterious but it was more emotional than the first book.
August 6, 2014
Another fantastic read. Reading the second book of a series is always rough. I worry a bit because they seem weaker. NOT THE CASE HERE! This was a strong story that continued to keep you on your toes. A definite page turner. Now I'm ready for more and sad I have to wait. Johansson can definitely weave a tale. Can't wait for more.
April 12, 2015
4.5 stars
June 18, 2015
I loved this! I didn't know there was a book 3 but I'm so excited to read it now!!
June 10, 2014
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: Fantastic story that was almost impossible to put down. Jam packed with action, romance, and suspense this is sure to please all YA thriller fans!
Opening Sentence: Weird stuff was going down in Oakville, and this time I was definitely—well, fairly—sure that I had nothing to do with it.
The Review:
For the last few years of his life, Parker hasn’t been able to sleep. Every time he tries to sleep he ends up going into the dreams of the last person he had eye contact with. The lack of sleep was slowly killing him and then he met Mia. Her dreams were so relaxing that he was finally able to sleep in them. Parker always thought that he was just different, but it turns out that there are others just like him. Parker is a Night Walker or more specifically a Watcher. A Watcher is someone that can enter into other people dreams. They can subtly influence the dreamer if they choose to or they can just watch and learn.
Parker soon learns that there are other types of Night Walkers, Takers and Builders. Takers have the power to possess any one they choose, but they can only do it for one night at a time. They don’t have the ability to sleep so they soon wear out their bodies and live very short lives. Builders on the other hand have the power to heal Watchers. They can restore the energy the Watcher use while in others dreams. The Takers are at war with the Watchers and Builders and Parker has found himself right in the middle of it. Parker finds an unlikely ally in Jack, the mysterious guy that supposedly was sent by his dad to help him master his Watcher abilities. He will have to learn to control his darker side if he has any hope of keeping his friends and family safe.
Parker is a very interesting character. He is such a great guy and always tries to do the right thing, but he also has a darker side to him. A side that will sometimes take control of his body when he is asleep, which always lands him in a bad situation. When he wakes up in jail after having no memories of the last 12 hours, he knows that he has to learn to control it. It was interesting to see his inner struggles with what was truly right and wrong. It made him feel like a more realistic character because I think that in general most people struggle with this every day in one form or another. I thought that Parker grew immensely as a character and I felt my connection with him strengthen. I think he was the perfect hero and I am hoping that we will get more of his story.
All of your favorite secondary characters make an appearance in the book as well. You have Finn, the best friend who brings lots of humor into the story with his witty remarks and funny t-shirts. Then there is Mia, the girl that keeps Parker alive with her calming dreams. She’s not in this story nearly as much as she was in the first book but I loved still seeing glimpses of her. Next is Addie, she is Finn’s little sister and the love interest. I loved getting to know Addie better and watching her relationship with Parker develop was cute. The last character I wanted to mention was Jack. He was just briefly introduced at the end of the last book, but he actually played a much bigger role in this one. You get to learn who he really is and the connection he has with Parker. I actually really like Jack, at first he comes across as kind of a jerk but the more I got to know him, the more I liked him. That’s all I’m going to say about him because I don’t want to spoil anything!
Paranoia gets huge props for being so original. While it has all the elements that a young adult thriller should have, it also has a very unique idea. I love that the characters can enter into other’s dreams, but I also like that there are consequences for any actions they take while in those dreams. The characters are so much fun in this series and each one of them was a great addition to the story. I love Johansson’s writing style, it is just so easy to get lost in her stories. She draws you in with the suspenseful plot and keeps you hooked with all the different twists and turns she adds. I really enjoyed Insomnia, it was a great start the series but Paranoia was an even better read. I loved learning more about the different types of Night Walker’s. I’m not sure if this is the end of the series because the ending was very satisfying, but Johansson could easily expound on the story. Either way, I would be happy, but honestly more from this world would be preferred! Overall, this was an excellent book and I would highly recommend this to any YA thriller fans, it will not disappoint.
Notable Scene:
I sat straight up and my vision burst into violent white, like a light bulb exploded behind my eyeballs. Then everything went dark, all but a pinpoint of glaring brightness in the center. Leaning back, I found what felt like a brick wall, and rested against it, panting—and panicking.
All around me was confusing noise: a loud printer, a phone rang in the distance, metal on metal, footsteps. And then so close I felt I could reach out and touch them, many people breathing: heavy breathing, light breathing, a cough here, a sniff over there. Someone laughed an emotionless, empty chuckle, but it echoed around me, through me, and I couldn’t decide which direction it had come from. This time I took it slower, parting my eyelids just enough to peek through and see a small slice of the room.
Everything around me was dingy white, with grey benches along all the walls. Other people sat or stood nearby—all men—and a few stared at me. I widened my eyelids a bit more and noticed the one detail that defined everything else. To my left, the white bricks I leaned against ended at a wall of grey bars.
What the hell is going on?
FTC Advisory: Flux provided me with a copy of Paranoia. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: Fantastic story that was almost impossible to put down. Jam packed with action, romance, and suspense this is sure to please all YA thriller fans!
Opening Sentence: Weird stuff was going down in Oakville, and this time I was definitely—well, fairly—sure that I had nothing to do with it.
The Review:
For the last few years of his life, Parker hasn’t been able to sleep. Every time he tries to sleep he ends up going into the dreams of the last person he had eye contact with. The lack of sleep was slowly killing him and then he met Mia. Her dreams were so relaxing that he was finally able to sleep in them. Parker always thought that he was just different, but it turns out that there are others just like him. Parker is a Night Walker or more specifically a Watcher. A Watcher is someone that can enter into other people dreams. They can subtly influence the dreamer if they choose to or they can just watch and learn.
Parker soon learns that there are other types of Night Walkers, Takers and Builders. Takers have the power to possess any one they choose, but they can only do it for one night at a time. They don’t have the ability to sleep so they soon wear out their bodies and live very short lives. Builders on the other hand have the power to heal Watchers. They can restore the energy the Watcher use while in others dreams. The Takers are at war with the Watchers and Builders and Parker has found himself right in the middle of it. Parker finds an unlikely ally in Jack, the mysterious guy that supposedly was sent by his dad to help him master his Watcher abilities. He will have to learn to control his darker side if he has any hope of keeping his friends and family safe.
Parker is a very interesting character. He is such a great guy and always tries to do the right thing, but he also has a darker side to him. A side that will sometimes take control of his body when he is asleep, which always lands him in a bad situation. When he wakes up in jail after having no memories of the last 12 hours, he knows that he has to learn to control it. It was interesting to see his inner struggles with what was truly right and wrong. It made him feel like a more realistic character because I think that in general most people struggle with this every day in one form or another. I thought that Parker grew immensely as a character and I felt my connection with him strengthen. I think he was the perfect hero and I am hoping that we will get more of his story.
All of your favorite secondary characters make an appearance in the book as well. You have Finn, the best friend who brings lots of humor into the story with his witty remarks and funny t-shirts. Then there is Mia, the girl that keeps Parker alive with her calming dreams. She’s not in this story nearly as much as she was in the first book but I loved still seeing glimpses of her. Next is Addie, she is Finn’s little sister and the love interest. I loved getting to know Addie better and watching her relationship with Parker develop was cute. The last character I wanted to mention was Jack. He was just briefly introduced at the end of the last book, but he actually played a much bigger role in this one. You get to learn who he really is and the connection he has with Parker. I actually really like Jack, at first he comes across as kind of a jerk but the more I got to know him, the more I liked him. That’s all I’m going to say about him because I don’t want to spoil anything!
Paranoia gets huge props for being so original. While it has all the elements that a young adult thriller should have, it also has a very unique idea. I love that the characters can enter into other’s dreams, but I also like that there are consequences for any actions they take while in those dreams. The characters are so much fun in this series and each one of them was a great addition to the story. I love Johansson’s writing style, it is just so easy to get lost in her stories. She draws you in with the suspenseful plot and keeps you hooked with all the different twists and turns she adds. I really enjoyed Insomnia, it was a great start the series but Paranoia was an even better read. I loved learning more about the different types of Night Walker’s. I’m not sure if this is the end of the series because the ending was very satisfying, but Johansson could easily expound on the story. Either way, I would be happy, but honestly more from this world would be preferred! Overall, this was an excellent book and I would highly recommend this to any YA thriller fans, it will not disappoint.
Notable Scene:
I sat straight up and my vision burst into violent white, like a light bulb exploded behind my eyeballs. Then everything went dark, all but a pinpoint of glaring brightness in the center. Leaning back, I found what felt like a brick wall, and rested against it, panting—and panicking.
All around me was confusing noise: a loud printer, a phone rang in the distance, metal on metal, footsteps. And then so close I felt I could reach out and touch them, many people breathing: heavy breathing, light breathing, a cough here, a sniff over there. Someone laughed an emotionless, empty chuckle, but it echoed around me, through me, and I couldn’t decide which direction it had come from. This time I took it slower, parting my eyelids just enough to peek through and see a small slice of the room.
Everything around me was dingy white, with grey benches along all the walls. Other people sat or stood nearby—all men—and a few stared at me. I widened my eyelids a bit more and noticed the one detail that defined everything else. To my left, the white bricks I leaned against ended at a wall of grey bars.
What the hell is going on?
FTC Advisory: Flux provided me with a copy of Paranoia. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
September 22, 2021
Al fin!!! Mejor que el primero, me encantó al igual que el primero.
Icreíbles personajes, increíble historia.
No apto para época de exámenes porque no paras de leerlo.
No apto para leerlo antes de acostarse porque no paras de leerlo.
En serio, me muero por su último libro.
Icreíbles personajes, increíble historia.
No apto para época de exámenes porque no paras de leerlo.
No apto para leerlo antes de acostarse porque no paras de leerlo.
En serio, me muero por su último libro.
June 10, 2014
*Also posted at Oops! I Read A Book Again*
Thank you to Flux and NetGalley for the review copy! This in no way affected my views of the novel.
It's here, you guys!! PARANOIA IS HERE!!!! And I'm here to share my review of the sequel to one of the books I loved last year, INSOMNIA. Just be warned that there will be spoilers about INSOMNIA so please do read this only when you've read the first book.
Jenn Johansson is back with another dark and twisty novel and I gobbled it up in a day. This seems like a trend with her. Parker is back, with Darkness all too real, present, raging and fighting for control. With Mia, Addie and Finn on a week-long getaway to Florida, he doesn't have Mia's dreams to sleep in and this results in him being weak. And with Parker weak, Darkness gets to play. After an especially rough night which lands him in jail, Parker decides he needs to deal with Darkness. Here comes Jack, after months of being a no-show, telling him he's here to help. Parker is reluctant and suspicious of Jack but he knows a lot about being a Watcher and that's all he's been yearning for ever since, answers. Knowledge.
Parker now knows that he's called a Night Walker, and that there are three types of it. Jack becomes the Night Walker master as he tells Parker what he needs to know and even teaches him how to manipulate dreams, which Parker thought was impossible. Meanwhile, Parker struggles with keeping his relationship with Addie a secret from Finn because duh, bro-code. While all of these are happening, Oakville is under distress as well, with people disappearing and waking up completely out of whack. Parker suspects that this has something to do with the other type of Night Walkers, the Takers, who take over bodies.
Good lord, the answers! I have been waiting for answers like Parker ever since I read INSOMNIA. Why can Parker watch dreams? What is going on? Now, everything is answered thanks to Jack. It might be a little bit of info dump but it's one I appreciate because seriously, the world Jenn crafted has been picking on my brain matter for a long time.
Similar to INSOMNIA, while Parker has his own issues, there's a larger conflict or plot arc that begs to be solved. In here, it is the mysterious uptick in missing people and the Takers in action. With Parker, it's about getting himself in control as he now knows that he is what called a Divided. I love this set-up because we never run out of mysteries and problems to be solved. Only this time, we not only have Parker but we basically get an ensemble of characters working towards the same goal. Jack is an interesting character but it just might be me but I didn't really connect with him.
I guess my expectations were different and I wanted other things to happen in PARANOIA so my love for it wasn't as strong as the first book's. Okay, I will definitely have spoilers now. We know from INSOMNIA that Parker and Addie have feelings for each other. Part of the reason why I was so excited for the sequel is that I want to read on Parker's conflict of liking Addie but needing Mia. Isn't that one of the best love triangle set-ups? It sure need not be a love triangle but I was imagining how Parker needing Mia would put a stress on his relationship with Addie. But nah, there was no such thing. Okay, that was fine with me but then Addie and Parker break up because Parker's keeping her a secret and he has problems aka Darkness. That's still okay too, relationships need to be tested to be stronger. But then a love triangle crops up in Jack liking Addie. I just didn't like the direction the romance went. I think this is the primary reason why I didn't love this sequel as much.
Even though I was not the biggest fan of the romance arc, I still highly enjoyed PARANOIA. It was more action-packed than INSOMNIA and with definitely higher stakes. The danger, OH the danger. We also get to peel more layers from Parker's complexity as a character which gains the book a thousand brownie points from me. His internal conflict in PARANOIA was so juicy to read. By the way, I love Darkness. He's Parker and he's not. I totally feel for him and I pity him and I get him. Feel free to psychoanalyze me.
As usual, Jenn doesn't hold back from surprises and PARANOIA definitely earned gasps and OMGs from me. Like its predecessor, PARANOIA was fast-paced and exciting, making you invested all the way. However, it also felt like some of the reveals were pretty convenient and predictable. I still think the writing was strong because it kept me glued to it even with my issues. If you loved INSOMNIA, I think PARANOIA is still a must-read. And now that I know there's going to be a third book in Jack's point-of-view, I am very much looking forward to it too. To have a piece of Finn's mind would be epic. And to get more answers and to completely build the story world in my mind would be fantastic. Eep!
Thank you to Flux and NetGalley for the review copy! This in no way affected my views of the novel.
It's here, you guys!! PARANOIA IS HERE!!!! And I'm here to share my review of the sequel to one of the books I loved last year, INSOMNIA. Just be warned that there will be spoilers about INSOMNIA so please do read this only when you've read the first book.
Jenn Johansson is back with another dark and twisty novel and I gobbled it up in a day. This seems like a trend with her. Parker is back, with Darkness all too real, present, raging and fighting for control. With Mia, Addie and Finn on a week-long getaway to Florida, he doesn't have Mia's dreams to sleep in and this results in him being weak. And with Parker weak, Darkness gets to play. After an especially rough night which lands him in jail, Parker decides he needs to deal with Darkness. Here comes Jack, after months of being a no-show, telling him he's here to help. Parker is reluctant and suspicious of Jack but he knows a lot about being a Watcher and that's all he's been yearning for ever since, answers. Knowledge.
Parker now knows that he's called a Night Walker, and that there are three types of it. Jack becomes the Night Walker master as he tells Parker what he needs to know and even teaches him how to manipulate dreams, which Parker thought was impossible. Meanwhile, Parker struggles with keeping his relationship with Addie a secret from Finn because duh, bro-code. While all of these are happening, Oakville is under distress as well, with people disappearing and waking up completely out of whack. Parker suspects that this has something to do with the other type of Night Walkers, the Takers, who take over bodies.
Good lord, the answers! I have been waiting for answers like Parker ever since I read INSOMNIA. Why can Parker watch dreams? What is going on? Now, everything is answered thanks to Jack. It might be a little bit of info dump but it's one I appreciate because seriously, the world Jenn crafted has been picking on my brain matter for a long time.
Similar to INSOMNIA, while Parker has his own issues, there's a larger conflict or plot arc that begs to be solved. In here, it is the mysterious uptick in missing people and the Takers in action. With Parker, it's about getting himself in control as he now knows that he is what called a Divided. I love this set-up because we never run out of mysteries and problems to be solved. Only this time, we not only have Parker but we basically get an ensemble of characters working towards the same goal. Jack is an interesting character but it just might be me but I didn't really connect with him.
I guess my expectations were different and I wanted other things to happen in PARANOIA so my love for it wasn't as strong as the first book's. Okay, I will definitely have spoilers now. We know from INSOMNIA that Parker and Addie have feelings for each other. Part of the reason why I was so excited for the sequel is that I want to read on Parker's conflict of liking Addie but needing Mia. Isn't that one of the best love triangle set-ups? It sure need not be a love triangle but I was imagining how Parker needing Mia would put a stress on his relationship with Addie. But nah, there was no such thing. Okay, that was fine with me but then Addie and Parker break up because Parker's keeping her a secret and he has problems aka Darkness. That's still okay too, relationships need to be tested to be stronger. But then a love triangle crops up in Jack liking Addie. I just didn't like the direction the romance went. I think this is the primary reason why I didn't love this sequel as much.
Even though I was not the biggest fan of the romance arc, I still highly enjoyed PARANOIA. It was more action-packed than INSOMNIA and with definitely higher stakes. The danger, OH the danger. We also get to peel more layers from Parker's complexity as a character which gains the book a thousand brownie points from me. His internal conflict in PARANOIA was so juicy to read. By the way, I love Darkness. He's Parker and he's not. I totally feel for him and I pity him and I get him. Feel free to psychoanalyze me.
As usual, Jenn doesn't hold back from surprises and PARANOIA definitely earned gasps and OMGs from me. Like its predecessor, PARANOIA was fast-paced and exciting, making you invested all the way. However, it also felt like some of the reveals were pretty convenient and predictable. I still think the writing was strong because it kept me glued to it even with my issues. If you loved INSOMNIA, I think PARANOIA is still a must-read. And now that I know there's going to be a third book in Jack's point-of-view, I am very much looking forward to it too. To have a piece of Finn's mind would be epic. And to get more answers and to completely build the story world in my mind would be fantastic. Eep!
February 16, 2015
Reviewed on Lili Lost in a Book
So in this second installment of The Night Walkers, we have Parker who is finally getting a hang of this whole Watcher thing... well, kind of thanks to Mia's dreams. But when Mia, Addie, and Finn leave on vacation for a whole week, things take a horrible turn into Freakyville. At the start of the week, things seem to be going somewhat okay for Parker, nothing more than sleep deprivation and exhaustion, but keeping Darkness under control. Until one day, when the week is almost up, the tight hold Parker had on Darkness loosens, allowing Darkness to take over his body once again, landing him in freakin' jail! Crazy, I know.
We actually learn who Darkness really is, and that there are more people out there like Parker... but other people with different powers! Totally blew my mind! AND we learn their origin too! Where they came from... it was really interesting and intriguing and actually kind of realistic. Anyway, I was so glad to finally find out how and why Parker got this weird power. And the experiments they talked about... they reminded me A LOT of a Creepypasta called "The Russian Sleep Experiment." I LOVE Creepypastas! They are basically short horror stories, and you know how much I love horror ;) If you love horror, (and this series!) you definitely need to read/hear "The Russian Sleep Experiment!" (I don't actually read them, I listen to them on YouTube! If you want, you can listen to that story here or here. Same story, different narrators, but love both! Be warned, there are creepy pictures in the videos).
Anyway, this book had so many twists it blew my freakin' mind! I just could not believe the things we found out... and I do appreciate when books can surprise me like that! Plot Twists FTW!
I gotta say, one of my favorite characters in this series has got to be Finn. He is just so funny and overall fun! He is just an awesome friend! Love him! Really like Parker too... he's an awesome protagonist and he can be funny when he wants to be ;) But you know what, I didn't really care for the Parker-Addie relationship =/ I don't know why but in the last book I think I cared more about it than in this one. And then there's Jack... you remember that mysterious guy with the skull-type thing on his jacket? Boy, you will NEVER believe who this guy really is! Can you say plot twist? Anyway, I was kinda iffy about this guy throughout the book. But I guess I was okay with him by the end.
Overall, I really liked this book! It was very suspenseful, exciting, and had many surprising twists and turns I did not see coming! Great sequel to Insomnia !
So in this second installment of The Night Walkers, we have Parker who is finally getting a hang of this whole Watcher thing... well, kind of thanks to Mia's dreams. But when Mia, Addie, and Finn leave on vacation for a whole week, things take a horrible turn into Freakyville. At the start of the week, things seem to be going somewhat okay for Parker, nothing more than sleep deprivation and exhaustion, but keeping Darkness under control. Until one day, when the week is almost up, the tight hold Parker had on Darkness loosens, allowing Darkness to take over his body once again, landing him in freakin' jail! Crazy, I know.
We actually learn who Darkness really is, and that there are more people out there like Parker... but other people with different powers! Totally blew my mind! AND we learn their origin too! Where they came from... it was really interesting and intriguing and actually kind of realistic. Anyway, I was so glad to finally find out how and why Parker got this weird power. And the experiments they talked about... they reminded me A LOT of a Creepypasta called "The Russian Sleep Experiment." I LOVE Creepypastas! They are basically short horror stories, and you know how much I love horror ;) If you love horror, (and this series!) you definitely need to read/hear "The Russian Sleep Experiment!" (I don't actually read them, I listen to them on YouTube! If you want, you can listen to that story here or here. Same story, different narrators, but love both! Be warned, there are creepy pictures in the videos).
Anyway, this book had so many twists it blew my freakin' mind! I just could not believe the things we found out... and I do appreciate when books can surprise me like that! Plot Twists FTW!
I gotta say, one of my favorite characters in this series has got to be Finn. He is just so funny and overall fun! He is just an awesome friend! Love him! Really like Parker too... he's an awesome protagonist and he can be funny when he wants to be ;) But you know what, I didn't really care for the Parker-Addie relationship =/ I don't know why but in the last book I think I cared more about it than in this one. And then there's Jack... you remember that mysterious guy with the skull-type thing on his jacket? Boy, you will NEVER believe who this guy really is! Can you say plot twist? Anyway, I was kinda iffy about this guy throughout the book. But I guess I was okay with him by the end.
Overall, I really liked this book! It was very suspenseful, exciting, and had many surprising twists and turns I did not see coming! Great sequel to Insomnia !
May 30, 2014
I was very lucky to be approved by Flux books on NetGalley for Paranoia, and after finishing Insomnia, I was extremely eager to get some more answers to all the unanswered questions!
I'm gonna try to keep this review as spoiler free as possible, but you can expect some spoilers for the first book.
Paranoia starts pretty much where Insomnia left us with Parker, Mia, Finn and Addie dealing with the aftermath of what happened by the end of the book, and recovering from it. Parker is now better since he can finally get some sleep and his friends know about his "ability".
Then Finn, Addie and Mia leave for Disneyland and as much as Parker tries to stay in control all hell breaks loose and he ends up being taken over by his darker side and in jail. And low and behold, Jack the guy with the blind skull patch comes back again to save the day.
I'm a bit torn on how to rate Paranoia, because I loved Parker's progression and character growth and we got answers and we got some background story for that answers that made sense and hinted at more things... but I highly disliked Jack for 90% of the book and I was truly annoyed at the twists added to the romance part.
First of all, let's start with Jack. He's been sent by Parker's dad to protect him, but he's been doing quite a crap job and he really isn't helpful at all when training or giving answers to Parker. I knew something didn't add up in his story, and I guessed correctly. He knows everything Parker doesn't about the abilities and how to control them and all the rest of what he calls "the Night Watchers" and despite knowing that Parker had no contact or information about it all, continues to act annoyed and high and mighty every step of the way. He might be hurt, he might be resentful, but he really isn't doing his job very well at all. Very frustrating!
There was a certain uncertainity introduced with Mia and Finn and Parker and if the romance mess would have been limited to that, I would have understand. It made sense and confusion and misunderstandings happen. But how things went with Addie and Parker and Jack, it was once again frustrating!
The way the book ends is quite enough as to leave this as a duology, and we do get plenty of answers (finally!). The climax was interesting, with a few reveals that were quite interesting (one I had guessed, the other I didn't see coming) but I have to say something I know should have been a bigger emotional punch left me a bit unsure how to feel. I don't think neither Parker nor the reader has enough time to process emotionally the changes to feel affected enough.
It was still a very engrossing read, less creepy and full of tension than the first book, but thankfully full of answers. Torn as I am, I give it 3 to 3.5 stars.
I'm gonna try to keep this review as spoiler free as possible, but you can expect some spoilers for the first book.
Paranoia starts pretty much where Insomnia left us with Parker, Mia, Finn and Addie dealing with the aftermath of what happened by the end of the book, and recovering from it. Parker is now better since he can finally get some sleep and his friends know about his "ability".
Then Finn, Addie and Mia leave for Disneyland and as much as Parker tries to stay in control all hell breaks loose and he ends up being taken over by his darker side and in jail. And low and behold, Jack the guy with the blind skull patch comes back again to save the day.
I'm a bit torn on how to rate Paranoia, because I loved Parker's progression and character growth and we got answers and we got some background story for that answers that made sense and hinted at more things... but I highly disliked Jack for 90% of the book and I was truly annoyed at the twists added to the romance part.
First of all, let's start with Jack. He's been sent by Parker's dad to protect him, but he's been doing quite a crap job and he really isn't helpful at all when training or giving answers to Parker. I knew something didn't add up in his story, and I guessed correctly. He knows everything Parker doesn't about the abilities and how to control them and all the rest of what he calls "the Night Watchers" and despite knowing that Parker had no contact or information about it all, continues to act annoyed and high and mighty every step of the way. He might be hurt, he might be resentful, but he really isn't doing his job very well at all. Very frustrating!
There was a certain uncertainity introduced with Mia and Finn and Parker and if the romance mess would have been limited to that, I would have understand. It made sense and confusion and misunderstandings happen. But how things went with Addie and Parker and Jack, it was once again frustrating!
The way the book ends is quite enough as to leave this as a duology, and we do get plenty of answers (finally!). The climax was interesting, with a few reveals that were quite interesting (one I had guessed, the other I didn't see coming) but I have to say something I know should have been a bigger emotional punch left me a bit unsure how to feel. I don't think neither Parker nor the reader has enough time to process emotionally the changes to feel affected enough.
It was still a very engrossing read, less creepy and full of tension than the first book, but thankfully full of answers. Torn as I am, I give it 3 to 3.5 stars.
June 25, 2014
Parker has gotten into a happy rhythm with his life in the last four months since the school fire/Jeff incident. He hangs out with his best friend Finn, secretly sees Finn’s sister Abbie, and spends his nights sleeping inside Mia’s dreams. His life is not perfect, but for once he is doing ok with everything. But unfortunately nothing really ever ends well for Parker. People have been going missing, his evil alter ego is making demands on him, and there are more things out there than the Watchers.
I love this series. This is book 2, and I guess it can be read alone but I would not recommend it because you would miss out on the entire back story. So please take my advice and pick up book one, which also a fantastic read. I have never seen anything like this subject matter before, making it so incredibly unique. The world building the author does is unreal, be it about the three types of “special” individuals or from the dreams Parker finds himself in. I was completely wrapped up in the story and read the entire book in one sitting because I wanted to know what would happen next.
Parker is such a great character, if I was a teenage girl I would want to throw myself at him. He has no airs, is just 100% percent himself. And he always tried to do the right thing, even if it ends up hurting him. But he does have that bad boy edge to drive girls wild, be it Darkness coming forward or his own desires. I absolutely love him; seriously I have no character flaws to point out. Yes he is a deeply flawed person, but he knows that and still tries to do good. Sigh.
I like the relationship between Parker and his friends, the fact they are all in this together, complete honesty. Parker does not have to be angsty and sad alone, but these loyal people share the burden with him. Parker is completely in love with Abbie, so much so that everyone around him knows it regardless of him telling anyone. The very intimate moment (not sexy time, the book is fairly pg rated) that Finn and Abbie share was incredibly intense, and how could Abbie not want to be with this boy who revealed all of himself to her? I had mixed feelings with Jack, at first I liked him, and then mistrusted him until the reveal when I had it all ready figured out. I love how open and accepting Parker was to Jack, even after everything they went through.
The end felt a little bit like it was “the end” of the series, everything was wrapped up so nicely. But I sincerely hope there is more to come because I enjoy every venture into Parker’s world. To be honest though, I will read anything by this author, she has a fan in me.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
I love this series. This is book 2, and I guess it can be read alone but I would not recommend it because you would miss out on the entire back story. So please take my advice and pick up book one, which also a fantastic read. I have never seen anything like this subject matter before, making it so incredibly unique. The world building the author does is unreal, be it about the three types of “special” individuals or from the dreams Parker finds himself in. I was completely wrapped up in the story and read the entire book in one sitting because I wanted to know what would happen next.
Parker is such a great character, if I was a teenage girl I would want to throw myself at him. He has no airs, is just 100% percent himself. And he always tried to do the right thing, even if it ends up hurting him. But he does have that bad boy edge to drive girls wild, be it Darkness coming forward or his own desires. I absolutely love him; seriously I have no character flaws to point out. Yes he is a deeply flawed person, but he knows that and still tries to do good. Sigh.
I like the relationship between Parker and his friends, the fact they are all in this together, complete honesty. Parker does not have to be angsty and sad alone, but these loyal people share the burden with him. Parker is completely in love with Abbie, so much so that everyone around him knows it regardless of him telling anyone. The very intimate moment (not sexy time, the book is fairly pg rated) that Finn and Abbie share was incredibly intense, and how could Abbie not want to be with this boy who revealed all of himself to her? I had mixed feelings with Jack, at first I liked him, and then mistrusted him until the reveal when I had it all ready figured out. I love how open and accepting Parker was to Jack, even after everything they went through.
The end felt a little bit like it was “the end” of the series, everything was wrapped up so nicely. But I sincerely hope there is more to come because I enjoy every venture into Parker’s world. To be honest though, I will read anything by this author, she has a fan in me.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
June 13, 2014
Overall: 4-1/2 Stars
Paranoia is a great sequel, and I liked it even better than Insomnia (which I liked!). Here we jump right back into things a few months after where Insomnia ended. Parker is still dealing with his dream walking, Mia's dreams help him, but Parker is far from cured. Finn and Addie are still his besties, and in Addie's case, something a bit more but undefined. Darkness, however, is also still around, complicating Parker's life all over the place. And if that weren't enough, Jack returns to shed more light onto Parker's life than he would have ever imagined. And they all end up in unexpected danger, unclear if they will all make it out in one piece.
The plot, once again, was very creative and engaging. I had a difficult time putting this puppy down. Admittedly, there were a few repetitive parts in the beginning, but once I got past that, the pace really picked up, and I was hooked until the very end. Without giving too much away, I'll say that the story includes learning more about the Night Walker community, but with more knowledge, more problems come to the surface. Parker's dealing not only with his Watcher status and what that really means, but how it all plays out in the larger scheme of things. More light is shed on his condition, but more complications are enlightened as well. And that's only the beginning, because they are in danger! This made for a very exciting, edge-of-my-seat read.
In addition to the craziness of the Watcher community, we also get a load of friend and relationship issues. I thought the way each relationship was looked at was really well done. There was a great depth to their importance, how Parker treated each person, and how they all inter-related. I love that this series is more than just paranormal and more than just a romance. There is a beauty in the depths of the relationships. Plus, the characters are just so endearing, even with their flaws. I think that is why you can't help but root for Parker and his friends. They are real and make mistakes, but they are sincere, loyal, and genuine. I seriously love these guys!
I definitely recommend this series to anyone who likes an exciting, action-filled story with a creepy paranormal twist, and great characters you can't help but love and root for. There's no cliffhanger at the end, so you'll be safe until the next installment. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book!
Paranoia is a great sequel, and I liked it even better than Insomnia (which I liked!). Here we jump right back into things a few months after where Insomnia ended. Parker is still dealing with his dream walking, Mia's dreams help him, but Parker is far from cured. Finn and Addie are still his besties, and in Addie's case, something a bit more but undefined. Darkness, however, is also still around, complicating Parker's life all over the place. And if that weren't enough, Jack returns to shed more light onto Parker's life than he would have ever imagined. And they all end up in unexpected danger, unclear if they will all make it out in one piece.
The plot, once again, was very creative and engaging. I had a difficult time putting this puppy down. Admittedly, there were a few repetitive parts in the beginning, but once I got past that, the pace really picked up, and I was hooked until the very end. Without giving too much away, I'll say that the story includes learning more about the Night Walker community, but with more knowledge, more problems come to the surface. Parker's dealing not only with his Watcher status and what that really means, but how it all plays out in the larger scheme of things. More light is shed on his condition, but more complications are enlightened as well. And that's only the beginning, because they are in danger! This made for a very exciting, edge-of-my-seat read.
In addition to the craziness of the Watcher community, we also get a load of friend and relationship issues. I thought the way each relationship was looked at was really well done. There was a great depth to their importance, how Parker treated each person, and how they all inter-related. I love that this series is more than just paranormal and more than just a romance. There is a beauty in the depths of the relationships. Plus, the characters are just so endearing, even with their flaws. I think that is why you can't help but root for Parker and his friends. They are real and make mistakes, but they are sincere, loyal, and genuine. I seriously love these guys!
I definitely recommend this series to anyone who likes an exciting, action-filled story with a creepy paranormal twist, and great characters you can't help but love and root for. There's no cliffhanger at the end, so you'll be safe until the next installment. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book!
July 18, 2014
In Paranoia J R Johansson drives us further into the Night Walker world, which we first encountered in Insomnia.
The story begins with a mystery; individuals disappearing in Oakville and its surrounding area, which forces us to question the connection this has with the Walkers. Luckily, J R Johansson has already considered this and to bring more depth to the story Jack is re-introduced, only this time as a main character. Jack is Parker's 'protector', appointed as such by Parker's missing father. Jack has a vast knowledge of the Night Walkers and he is willing to teach his charge.
In order to fully understand the events in Paranoia we must first grasp the new terms Jack uses; 'walker', ''builder' and 'taker', and to help us J R Johansson uses these words frequently, in context.
This book continues the psychology theme and interestingly, at several points, even Freud is quoted. This is to help us accept Parker's 'divided' state; the way in which his personality is shared between 'Darkness', who exerts an increasing control, and 'Parker'. Throughout the novel Parker struggles with this dichotomy, trying to resist the negative feelings which 'Darkness' spreads, but ultimately it is the union of the two which saves the people he cares for.
Parker's relationships with Finn, Addie and Mia are just as important in this book as they were in Insomnia although the inclusion of Jack puts strain upon the group's comfortable routine. Initially, Finn is as laid-back as we have previously seen him, which makes later events so disturbing.
Through her dreams we see Mia reconciling with her past, and with Parker's help, she makes plans for a positive future.
Addie's role is more important in Insomnia as her talents are revealed by Jack. This, and other events, put Parker and Addie's new romance under stress and while Jack tries to replace Parker, we wonder if they can regain what they had.
Paranoia is a complicated novel, but J R Johansson's writing style allows us easy access to the plot.The later chapters are filled with action, emotion and apprehension, and we reach the story's end with a sense of finality, although I would really like to follow Jack's story.
This is a must-read for fans of Insomnia, but I would recommend the Night Walker series to anyone looking for Young Adult books with a difference.
The story begins with a mystery; individuals disappearing in Oakville and its surrounding area, which forces us to question the connection this has with the Walkers. Luckily, J R Johansson has already considered this and to bring more depth to the story Jack is re-introduced, only this time as a main character. Jack is Parker's 'protector', appointed as such by Parker's missing father. Jack has a vast knowledge of the Night Walkers and he is willing to teach his charge.
In order to fully understand the events in Paranoia we must first grasp the new terms Jack uses; 'walker', ''builder' and 'taker', and to help us J R Johansson uses these words frequently, in context.
This book continues the psychology theme and interestingly, at several points, even Freud is quoted. This is to help us accept Parker's 'divided' state; the way in which his personality is shared between 'Darkness', who exerts an increasing control, and 'Parker'. Throughout the novel Parker struggles with this dichotomy, trying to resist the negative feelings which 'Darkness' spreads, but ultimately it is the union of the two which saves the people he cares for.
Parker's relationships with Finn, Addie and Mia are just as important in this book as they were in Insomnia although the inclusion of Jack puts strain upon the group's comfortable routine. Initially, Finn is as laid-back as we have previously seen him, which makes later events so disturbing.
Through her dreams we see Mia reconciling with her past, and with Parker's help, she makes plans for a positive future.
Addie's role is more important in Insomnia as her talents are revealed by Jack. This, and other events, put Parker and Addie's new romance under stress and while Jack tries to replace Parker, we wonder if they can regain what they had.
Paranoia is a complicated novel, but J R Johansson's writing style allows us easy access to the plot.The later chapters are filled with action, emotion and apprehension, and we reach the story's end with a sense of finality, although I would really like to follow Jack's story.
This is a must-read for fans of Insomnia, but I would recommend the Night Walker series to anyone looking for Young Adult books with a difference.
October 16, 2018
Reseñado en mi blog Nanny Books
Había tenido mis reparos con el primer libro, Insomnia, pero no esperaba encontrarme esto en la continuación. Dudo que siga leyendo la saga y si lo hago es solo para enterarme cómo termina, porque sí, el fuerte de la autora es crear misterio, pero la trama no me convence en absoluto.
Por suerte, aún no hay triángulo amoroso, al menos planteado como tal. Pero la química me parece inexistente entre Parker y... su chica. No puedo spoilearlos, pero seguro ya saben de quién hablo. La construcción de los personajes no es suficiente y más allá del protagonista, todo es muy vacuo. ¿Es algo hecho a propósito o simplemente no está bien? Ni que decir que el protagonista no causa simpatía tampoco. Es... ¿recuerdan que todo el mundo critica a la típica chica tonta que no sabe hacer nada y corre como loca de un lado para otro? Pues bien, Parker no usa falda, pero en todo lo demás es igual.
A mitad del libro tenía muchas ganas, pero muchas, de que el lado oscuro de Parker ganara y nos cambiaran el protagonista. Si bien comienzan a llegar algunas respuestas acerca de este poder de los Caminantes, Oscuridad sigue pareciendo impenetrable. Y me gusta, me gusta mucho más que el héroe.
Hacia el final, sentía que todo lo que había arriesgado a pensar durante la lectura se iba a cumplir. Y sí, se cumplió. Aún hay cosas que seguramente Johansson se tiene guardadas como último az en la manga, pero no estoy muy segura de querer atravesar trescientas páginas de tedio para enterarme.
El final es muy abierto, la autora te lo deja picando, generalmente eso me desespera, pero aquí me lo voy a pensar. La historia no me parece mala del todo. El estilo de la autora te atrapa, es muy correcta y la mayor parte de los diálogos son interesantes. Pero, los personajes no terminan de cocinarse y siento que la comunidad de Caminantes es forzada. Aunque seguramente tendremos mucha acción en el próximo libro, no creo que pueda mejorar lo suficiente.
June 20, 2014
See my full review on my blog: Challenging Reads!
Parker has finally learned that there are other Watchers like himself who walk in other people's dreams and call themselves Night Walkers. Jack is one of them and just like he promised in book one, he has a few things to teach Parker. But meanwhile Parker is adjusting to his new destiny, strange things happen in Oakville and they might be related to the Night Walkers. And if that wasn't enough, Parker keeps messing up things with his friends, Finn, Mia and Addie.
Parker was once again an original voice that I liked and enjoyed to read about. I always appreciate YA fiction from a male perspective and this book was no exception. I liked how preotctive he felt of the people he loves and how the romantic relationship to Addie is described from his view. He just isn't sure yet what to think of Jack who comes across as pretty mysterious.
One of the most interesting aspects of this book was Parker's divided personality. Due to his lack of sleep and control at the beginning of this series, all his pent-up frustration, anger and violence has split itself from his person and become a very own person, Darkness. Darkness is growing more restless because he feels imprisoned in Parker's body. And maybe, just maybe, Parker needs to trust his instincts sometimes more than his rationale.
The plot was very fast and due to the shortness of this book, I finished it rather quickly. I liked that it opened a whole new storyline to the plot which made it at least as interesting as the first book where we simply find out about Parker's abilities and their consequences. The only thing I didn't like was the story about his Dad. I was a bit disappointed by the conclusion to all thid Daddy business.
I'm really excited for the next book. I'm pretty sure it will start yet another plotline and I'm curious what it'll be about.
Parker has finally learned that there are other Watchers like himself who walk in other people's dreams and call themselves Night Walkers. Jack is one of them and just like he promised in book one, he has a few things to teach Parker. But meanwhile Parker is adjusting to his new destiny, strange things happen in Oakville and they might be related to the Night Walkers. And if that wasn't enough, Parker keeps messing up things with his friends, Finn, Mia and Addie.
Parker was once again an original voice that I liked and enjoyed to read about. I always appreciate YA fiction from a male perspective and this book was no exception. I liked how preotctive he felt of the people he loves and how the romantic relationship to Addie is described from his view. He just isn't sure yet what to think of Jack who comes across as pretty mysterious.
One of the most interesting aspects of this book was Parker's divided personality. Due to his lack of sleep and control at the beginning of this series, all his pent-up frustration, anger and violence has split itself from his person and become a very own person, Darkness. Darkness is growing more restless because he feels imprisoned in Parker's body. And maybe, just maybe, Parker needs to trust his instincts sometimes more than his rationale.
The plot was very fast and due to the shortness of this book, I finished it rather quickly. I liked that it opened a whole new storyline to the plot which made it at least as interesting as the first book where we simply find out about Parker's abilities and their consequences. The only thing I didn't like was the story about his Dad. I was a bit disappointed by the conclusion to all thid Daddy business.
I'm really excited for the next book. I'm pretty sure it will start yet another plotline and I'm curious what it'll be about.
August 6, 2014
THIS. This is how you write the second novel in a series. J.R. Johansson is such a talented author - I've known that for a while but PARANOIA just cemented that fact. I've been a disappointed by a lot of the sophomore efforts I've read lately, but I feel like this book has given me the strength to make it through. What a breath of fresh air.
In PARANOIA we find ourselves back in the (often creepy) life of Parker, a Night Walker who can only find sleep in the dreams of others. In this book we find out so much more about the Night Walkers (there are 3 types/classes) and about Parker himself. We also get to watch how he handles that most difficult side of his personality, Darkness - and we get tons of insight into who the mysterious Jack from the last book really is, as well as some info on where Parker's absentee dad has been and what he's been up to. Ms. Johansson does a wonderful job of really setting up what the next book(s) will be about - which is new, because the story's direction wasn't nearly as clear after the first book. (Not that that's a bad thing, necessarily - I actually liked not being sure where Parker would take us next.)
There's so much conflict. So much. But in the best possible way. I loved that this book was easy. It was messy and gritty and hard and heart-breaking. But it was also redeeming. I loved this read. And J.R. Has joined the ranks of the very rare and elite (Marissa Meyer, Tahereh Mafi, E.J. Stevens) who have managed not to suffer from the much dreaded sophomore slump.
Read this book. You won't regret it.
In PARANOIA we find ourselves back in the (often creepy) life of Parker, a Night Walker who can only find sleep in the dreams of others. In this book we find out so much more about the Night Walkers (there are 3 types/classes) and about Parker himself. We also get to watch how he handles that most difficult side of his personality, Darkness - and we get tons of insight into who the mysterious Jack from the last book really is, as well as some info on where Parker's absentee dad has been and what he's been up to. Ms. Johansson does a wonderful job of really setting up what the next book(s) will be about - which is new, because the story's direction wasn't nearly as clear after the first book. (Not that that's a bad thing, necessarily - I actually liked not being sure where Parker would take us next.)
There's so much conflict. So much. But in the best possible way. I loved that this book was easy. It was messy and gritty and hard and heart-breaking. But it was also redeeming. I loved this read. And J.R. Has joined the ranks of the very rare and elite (Marissa Meyer, Tahereh Mafi, E.J. Stevens) who have managed not to suffer from the much dreaded sophomore slump.
Read this book. You won't regret it.
August 20, 2014
Advanced copy received from the publisher (Flux) at Teen Lit Con, Minneapolis.
Fantastic follow up to Insomnia. I actually liked this book better than the first, I think because I actually liked Parker through the whole book! He did a couple dumb things, but he's a good guy :)
Lots of surprising twists and complications in this story. Definitely kept me wondering "how are they going to fix this???" (which is one of my signs of a good story. If I actually care about how the characters are going to get out of trouble, it means I really like the book and the characters!)
The story also got me thinking about how we are all "divided". Maybe not almost-literally like Parker, but I think we each have our own personal Darkness. And it's a conscious effort to keep him/her at bay, to try to maintain a balance of both sides.
Since it doesn't appear there is going to be a third Night Walker book--at least from what I can see on Goodreads (*sad face*)--I appreciate how this one ended. Not 100% clean and easy, but enough loose ends tied up, and questions answered to be satisfying.
**UPDATE: There IS going to be a book 3! Starring both Parker and Jack :)
Fantastic follow up to Insomnia. I actually liked this book better than the first, I think because I actually liked Parker through the whole book! He did a couple dumb things, but he's a good guy :)
Lots of surprising twists and complications in this story. Definitely kept me wondering "how are they going to fix this???" (which is one of my signs of a good story. If I actually care about how the characters are going to get out of trouble, it means I really like the book and the characters!)
The story also got me thinking about how we are all "divided". Maybe not almost-literally like Parker, but I think we each have our own personal Darkness. And it's a conscious effort to keep him/her at bay, to try to maintain a balance of both sides.
Since it doesn't appear there is going to be a third Night Walker book--at least from what I can see on Goodreads (*sad face*)--I appreciate how this one ended. Not 100% clean and easy, but enough loose ends tied up, and questions answered to be satisfying.
**UPDATE: There IS going to be a book 3! Starring both Parker and Jack :)
July 8, 2015
I cannot begin to express how much I loved this book.
Generally, the second book in a trilogy is always a little weaker than the others. This is definitely not the case.
As it happened with Insomnia, I felt that this book could have been just a stand alone, because they it is so great that it has everything it needs to make a story perfect!
Regarding the characters, I loved finding out more about each of them. I loved them all, and I could feel their pain and their exhaustion throughout the events.
I totally loved Addie. She is not the "stupid girl" who falls in love and therefore becomes weak and dependent. No, she is strong in her own way, and the way she loves Parker is so pure...
Finn is really one of my favourite characters. He is unique.
I liked getting to know more about Mia and to see her "not-scared" side.
Jack is still a mystery. There are a lot of things I want to know about him, and I hope more questions are answered in Mania.
Also, finding out more about Darkness was really amazing. Darkness it's not something that only Watchers have... We all have a dark side. And it's up to us decide what to do with it; to which side we let take control.
Another great book by Johansson. This woman's mind is incredible.
Generally, the second book in a trilogy is always a little weaker than the others. This is definitely not the case.
As it happened with Insomnia, I felt that this book could have been just a stand alone, because they it is so great that it has everything it needs to make a story perfect!
Regarding the characters, I loved finding out more about each of them. I loved them all, and I could feel their pain and their exhaustion throughout the events.
I totally loved Addie. She is not the "stupid girl" who falls in love and therefore becomes weak and dependent. No, she is strong in her own way, and the way she loves Parker is so pure...
Finn is really one of my favourite characters. He is unique.
I liked getting to know more about Mia and to see her "not-scared" side.
Jack is still a mystery. There are a lot of things I want to know about him, and I hope more questions are answered in Mania.
Also, finding out more about Darkness was really amazing. Darkness it's not something that only Watchers have... We all have a dark side. And it's up to us decide what to do with it; to which side we let take control.
Another great book by Johansson. This woman's mind is incredible.
October 20, 2014
While reading this book, the lyrics to Monster by Imagine Dragons kept coming to me:
Ever since I could remember,
Everything inside of me,
Just wanted to fit in (oh oh oh oh)
I was never one for pretenders,
Everything I tried to be,
Just wouldn't settle in (oh oh oh oh)
If I told you what I was,
Would you turn your back on me?
And if I seem dangerous,
Would you be scared?
I get the feeling just because
Everything I touch isn't dark enough
That this problem lies in me
Don't those lyrics fit perfectly?
Parker thinks he's got a grasp on how to control his life and dreams as a Watcher. But at the beginning of the book he ends up in jail and can't remember twelve hours of his life. And his alter ego who Parker calls Darkness seems to be getting stronger and taking more control of Parker's life. See how Darkness and the Imagine Dragons lyrics work??
The story is full of tension and mystery and twists right from the beginning. Good luck putting this book down!
Thanks to netgalley for the read.
Ever since I could remember,
Everything inside of me,
Just wanted to fit in (oh oh oh oh)
I was never one for pretenders,
Everything I tried to be,
Just wouldn't settle in (oh oh oh oh)
If I told you what I was,
Would you turn your back on me?
And if I seem dangerous,
Would you be scared?
I get the feeling just because
Everything I touch isn't dark enough
That this problem lies in me
Don't those lyrics fit perfectly?
Parker thinks he's got a grasp on how to control his life and dreams as a Watcher. But at the beginning of the book he ends up in jail and can't remember twelve hours of his life. And his alter ego who Parker calls Darkness seems to be getting stronger and taking more control of Parker's life. See how Darkness and the Imagine Dragons lyrics work??
The story is full of tension and mystery and twists right from the beginning. Good luck putting this book down!
Thanks to netgalley for the read.
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